Stemness factor Sall4 is required for DNA damage response in embryonic stem cells.

Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are genetically more stable than somatic cells, thereby preventing the passage of genomic abnormalities to their derivatives including germ cells. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain largely unclear. In this paper, we show that the stemness factor Sall4 is required for activating the critical Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM)-dependent cellular responses to DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) in mouse ESCs and confer their resistance to DSB-induced cytotoxicity. Sall4 is rapidly mobilized to the sites of DSBs after DNA damage. Furthermore, Sall4 interacts with Rad50 and stabilizes the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 complex for the efficient recruitment and activation of ATM. Sall4 also interacts with Baf60a, a member of the SWI/SNF (switch/sucrose nonfermentable) ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complex, which is responsible for recruiting Sall4 to the site of DNA DSB damage. Our findings provide novel mechanisms to coordinate stemness of ESCs with DNA damage response, ensuring genomic stability during the expansion of ESCs

Exploring the Dark Energy Equation of State with JWST

Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have unveiled several galaxies with stellar mass $M_*\gtrsim10^{10} M_\odot$ at $7.4\lesssim z\lesssim 9.1$. These remarkable findings indicate an unexpectedly high stellar mass density, which contradicts the prediction of the $\Lambda \rm CDM$ model. We adopt the Chevallier--Polarski--Linder (CPL) parameterization, one of the dynamic dark energy models, to probe the role of dark energy on shaping the galaxy formation. By considering varying star formation efficiencies within this framework, our analysis demonstrates that an increased proportion of dark energy in the universe corresponds to the formation of more massive galaxies at higher redshifts, given a fixed perturbation amplitude observed today. Furthermore, through elaborately selecting CPL parameters, we successfully explain the JWST observations with star formation efficiencies $\epsilon\gtrsim0.05$ at a confidence level of $95\%$. These intriguing results indicate the promising prospect of revealing the nature of dark energy by analyzing the high-redshift massive galaxies.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

The study of a seasonal solar cchp system based on evacuated flat-plate collectors and organic rankine cycle

The demands of cooling, heating and electricity in residential buildings are varied with seasons. This article presented a seasonal solar combined cooling heating and power (CCHP) system based on evacuated flat-plate collectors and organic Rankine cycle. The heat collected by evacuated flat-plate collectors is used to drive the organic Rankine cycle unit in spring, autumn and winter, and drive the double-effect lithium bromide absorption chiller in summer. The organic Rankine cycle condensation heat is used to yield hot water in spring and autumn, whereas supply heating in winter. The system thermodynamic performance was analyzed. The results show that the system thermal efficiency in spring, autumn and winter, ηsys, I, increases as organic Rankine cycle evaporation temperature, T6, and evacuated flat-plate collectors outlet temperature, T2, decrease. The maximum ηsys, I of 67.0% is achieved when T6 = 80 °C and T2 =100 °C. In summer, the system thermal efficiency, ηsys, II, increases first and then decreases with the increment of T2. The maximum ηsys, II of 69.9% is obtained at T2 =136 °C. The system output performance in Beijing and Lanzhou is better than that in Hefei. The average output power, heating capacity, hot water and cooling capacity are 50-72 kWh per day, 989-1514 kWh per day, 49-57 ton per day and 1812-2311 kWh per day, respectively. The system exergy efficiency increases from 17.8-40.8% after integrating the organic Rankine cycle unit

AnnexinA6: a potential therapeutic target gene for extracellular matrix mineralization

The mineralization of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential and crucial process for physiological bone formation and pathological calcification. The abnormal function of ECM mineralization contributes to the worldwide risk of developing mineralization-related diseases; for instance, vascular calcification is attributed to the hyperfunction of ECM mineralization, while osteoporosis is due to hypofunction. AnnexinA6 (AnxA6), a Ca2+-dependent phospholipid-binding protein, has been extensively reported as an essential target in mineralization-related diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, osteosarcoma, and calcific aortic valve disease. To date, AnxA6, as the largest member of the Annexin family, has attracted much attention due to its significant contribution to matrix vesicles (MVs) production and release, MVs-ECM interaction, cytoplasmic Ca2+ influx, and maturation of hydroxyapatite, making it an essential target in ECM mineralization. In this review, we outlined the recent advancements in the role of AnxA6 in mineralization-related diseases and the potential mechanisms of AnxA6 under normal and mineralization-related pathological conditions. AnxA6 could promote ECM mineralization for bone regeneration in the manner described previously. Therefore, AnxA6 may be a potential osteogenic target for ECM mineralization